Turkey has been increasingly labeling foreign Christians as national security threats, according to reports from Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!This move is being described as a misuse of law and a direct attack on the freedom of religion or belief.
Speaking at the OSCE Warsaw Human Dimension Conference, Lydia Reiter, a legal officer for ADF International, warned that the Turkish government is systematically targeting Christians under the guise of national security, expelling hundreds of foreign believers and leaving local congregations without spiritual leadership.
GospelRaw gathered that since 2020, more than 200 foreign Christian workers and their families, roughly 350 people in total, have been barred from entering Turkey under the country’s internal security codes N82 and G87.
These codes, used by the Ministry of Interior, are applied to prevent re-entry or deny residence permits, often without formal charges or evidence of criminal activity.
A June 8 ruling by Turkey’s Constitutional Court rejected an appeal by nine foreign Christians challenging the use of the N82 security code.
Following the court’s decision, the names of these individuals were publicly released, leading media outlets to label them as missionaries and enemies of the state. This provoked a wave of online comments, with many calling for the death penalty and framing their killing as a religious obligation.
Between December 2024 and January 2025 alone, at least 35 new individuals were issued similar security codes, including long-term residents who had lived in Turkey for decades.
These administrative bans have disrupted religious life across Turkey, as many congregations depend on foreign pastors for leadership. Although Turkey’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, foreign Christians and local churches are facing increasing restrictions.
One notable case is currently pending before the European Court of Human Rights. The plaintiff, a US citizen who had legally resided in Turkey for over 30 years, was denied re-entry without any explanation.
In its 2024 Human Rights Violations Report, the Association of Protestant Churches highlighted a rise in hate speech and violence against Christians in Turkey. In separate incidents throughout the same year, churches across the country reported vandalism, threats, and physical damage.
These developments have raised concerns about the protection of religious freedom in Turkey, as well as the increasing persecution of Christians in the country.
